Great Britain Women fell to a narrow 22-26 defeat to Spain on Saturday in the IFAF European Tackle Championships in Jaca, Spain.
Great Britain executed confidently on offense throughout the match-up in northern Spain, with touchdowns from Siobhan Walker and Eilidh Currie, but mistakes on special teams allowed the Spanish back into the game and ultimately take victory in the fourth quarter.
The Lions fall to their second defeat in the 2025/26 European Championships but look ahead to a home game against Germany in May 2026 with the chance to regain their standing in the competition.
Great Britain started the game confidently, with receiver and veteran playmaker Walker delivering a 65-yard rushing touchdown to open the scoring on GB’s first offensive drive.
Walker would score again just one drive later, running in a 21-yard touchdown to put the Lions up 13-0.
Spain found a response in the second quarter, forcing a safety with the GB offense backed up at their goal line. The Spanish offense then made its mark, with a 53 yard rush taking them to the one-yard-line before punching in the short touchdown.
Maintaining a slim lead, Great Britain went into halftime up 13-9.
As the second half got underway mistakes began to creep in for the Great Britain Lions. After holding Spain to a three-and-out, Great Britain fumbled their punt return, gifting Spain possession in the red-zone. Spain quickly capitalised on the field position, scoring a 16-yard pass touchdown to go ahead 13-16.
On the following drive, Great Britain were forced to punt. After retaking the punt twice due to penalties, a high snap led to another costly turnover on downs, giving Spain the ball at Great Britain’s nine yard line. The British defense held out well, with Spain settling for a field goal, extending their lead to 13-19.
GB’s offense again stalled, but a brilliant punt from Currie pinned the Spanish at their five yard line as the fourth quarter arrived. Fantastic tackling from Christi-Rose Pretorius and Georgia Teague prevented any progress from Spain, and it was Pretorius again shining as she blocked the Spanish punt and gave GB’s offense the ball at the five yard line.
Currie then delivered on the ground, proudly striding into the end zone for a two-yard rushing touchdown to bring the game level at 19-19.
With Spain leaning on their passing attack, the British defense again stood firm with defensive back Hollie Whiting making a crucial pass-break-up on third down.
Great Britain’s offense rediscovered their highlight-producing energy from the first quarter as receiver, and recent NWFL Championship MVP Tuva Strom escaped tacklers on a reverse and ran 60 yards to the Spanish ten yard line. Unable to punch it in, Currie settled for a field goal to give GB a slender lead 22-19.
In the dying moments of the game it was the Spaniards’ ever-threatening passing attack that had the final say, with a 55-yard receiving touchdown by Spain’s #3 sealing the game and setting off an explosion of noise from the home support.
Images courtesy of Lola Morales
